2 militants killed in Kashmir encounter

Two militants were killed Friday afternoon while a third was still holed up inside a house in north Kashmir apple-rich Sopore town.

A senior police officer said troops of Rashtriya Rifles and police surrounded the Nowpora locality of Sopore on Friday afternoon on specific information about presence of a group of militants.

"The militants opened fire on the security forces. In the exchange of fire, two militants were killed. The third, remaining terrorist took shelter in a house in the densely-populated locality," the officer said.

He said civilians were being evacuated from the area before an operation to flush out the terrorist. Tension has gripped the town following the fierce firing exchanges.